vernonFL:Well of course that is ridiculous. Flying is the safest form of travel and everyone knows this.

/Irrational fear is irrational.

This claim, regularly made by airlines, is based on a calculation of fatalities vs. distance traveled. It's a really effective way to dilute the number of air travel deaths because planes by their very nature make much longer journeys than cars, trains, etc. A more accurate comparison would be deaths vs. number of journeys made. Airline deaths per 100 million passenger journeys is right around 55. That number is 4.5 for cars and 2.7 for trains.

Sybarite:vernonFL: Well of course that is ridiculous. Flying is the safest form of travel and everyone knows this.

/Irrational fear is irrational.

This claim, regularly made by airlines, is based on a calculation of fatalities vs. distance traveled. It's a really effective way to dilute the number of air travel deaths because planes by their very nature make much longer journeys than cars, trains, etc. A more accurate comparison would be deaths vs. number of journeys made. Airline deaths per 100 million passenger journeys is right around 55. That number is 4.5 for cars and 2.7 for trains.

Is that long distance travel for every car journey or every trip in a car period?

Sybarite:vernonFL: Well of course that is ridiculous. Flying is the safest form of travel and everyone knows this.

/Irrational fear is irrational.

This claim, regularly made by airlines, is based on a calculation of fatalities vs. distance traveled. It's a really effective way to dilute the number of air travel deaths because planes by their very nature make much longer journeys than cars, trains, etc. A more accurate comparison would be deaths vs. number of journeys made. Airline deaths per 100 million passenger journeys is right around 55. That number is 4.5 for cars and 2.7 for trains.

I would actually argue for deaths per million passenger hours. Which would be more dangerous: Sitting in a car for 5 hours, or sitting in a jet for 5 hours?

dittybopper:Sybarite: vernonFL: Well of course that is ridiculous. Flying is the safest form of travel and everyone knows this.

/Irrational fear is irrational.

This claim, regularly made by airlines, is based on a calculation of fatalities vs. distance traveled. It's a really effective way to dilute the number of air travel deaths because planes by their very nature make much longer journeys than cars, trains, etc. A more accurate comparison would be deaths vs. number of journeys made. Airline deaths per 100 million passenger journeys is right around 55. That number is 4.5 for cars and 2.7 for trains.

I would actually argue for deaths per million passenger hours. Which would be more dangerous: Sitting in a car for 5 hours, or sitting in a jet for 5 hours?

Last time I sat in a jet for 5 hours we hadn't even taken off by that point. Pretty farking safe I'd imagine.

....I despise air travel and will avoid at all costs now. I've been on 18 hour flights from JFK to Tel Aviv, 13 hours from ATL to Honolulu. I've done my time in the purgatory of air travel.

Psylence:Last time I sat in a jet for 5 hours we hadn't even taken off by that point. Pretty farking safe I'd imagine.

....I despise air travel and will avoid at all costs now. I've been on 18 hour flights from JFK to Tel Aviv, 13 hours from ATL to Honolulu. I've done my time in the purgatory of air travel.

I actually like the ORD - HNL and HNL - ORD flights. Sure, they took 12+ hours on a 747, but I'd book flights leaving in the evening and most of the time they weren't full so I'd get to stretch out a bit and sleep.

Sybarite:vernonFL: Well of course that is ridiculous. Flying is the safest form of travel and everyone knows this.

/Irrational fear is irrational.

This claim, regularly made by airlines, is based on a calculation of fatalities vs. distance traveled. It's a really effective way to dilute the number of air travel deaths because planes by their very nature make much longer journeys than cars, trains, etc. A more accurate comparison would be deaths vs. number of journeys made. Airline deaths per 100 million passenger journeys is right around 55. That number is 4.5 for cars and 2.7 for trains.

Sybarite:vernonFL: Well of course that is ridiculous. Flying is the safest form of travel and everyone knows this.

/Irrational fear is irrational.

This claim, regularly made by airlines, is based on a calculation of fatalities vs. distance traveled. It's a really effective way to dilute the number of air travel deaths because planes by their very nature make much longer journeys than cars, trains, etc. A more accurate comparison would be deaths vs. number of journeys made. Airline deaths per 100 million passenger journeys is right around 55. That number is 4.5 for cars and 2.7 for trains.

I'm not sure I really agree with that. When you get on a plane, the most dangerous part of your trip is take off and landing, so you do get a lot of safe miles, but when you drive you risk your life every time another car gets close to you. May your airbags and crumple zones protect you. OTOH, an airplane crash is probably going to be catastrophic.. That might be why any idiot can drive a car, but to be an airline pilot you have to have a lot of training and experience.

Takeoff and landing are the most dangerous parts but they're also the most fun. I love the window especially coming in and out of DCA. I'd fly more often if not for a few issues including the TSA, every flight being packed to the gills, and of course expense. I really have to start booking earlier flights with the intention of giving up my seat if they have the option. They have done this every single flight I've taken for about the last dozen flights. This last weekend they offered a $400 voucher on the way out and a $600 one on the way back. Would have taken either but I was on the last flight out that had room and one the way back I couldn't take the later flight cuz I needed to pick up my dog.

It didn't help when the wooden gliders used in WWII were referred to as 'flying coffins.' I wonder how many infantry of WWII decided to never step into an airplane after walking past many airplanes crashed on the ground with men still inside.

Peter von Nostrand:Sybarite: vernonFL: Well of course that is ridiculous. Flying is the safest form of travel and everyone knows this.

/Irrational fear is irrational.

This claim, regularly made by airlines, is based on a calculation of fatalities vs. distance traveled. It's a really effective way to dilute the number of air travel deaths because planes by their very nature make much longer journeys than cars, trains, etc. A more accurate comparison would be deaths vs. number of journeys made. Airline deaths per 100 million passenger journeys is right around 55. That number is 4.5 for cars and 2.7 for trains.

Is that long distance travel for every car journey or every trip in a car period?

Of course its irrational. Doesn't make it any better though. I think a lot of it is the feeling of helplessness. You're at 20,000 feet and if something happens, there's literally nothing there to catch you. You can grab onto your armrest, but what good is that?

Watching way too much Air Crash Investigation on Youtube doesn't help either. Crap like the tail just suddenly coming off a 747 because of damage done almost 20 years ago that wasn't documented correctly, A bunch of maintenance guys decide to cut corners replacing an engine, crack a support mount that causes an engine to come off months later and sending the plane augering into the ground right after takeoff. Or a shorted wire that causes a cockpit fire that kills everyone on board. Its just the way little things can to lead to disaster that makes it so damn frightening.

Sybarite:vernonFL: Well of course that is ridiculous. Flying is the safest form of travel and everyone knows this.

/Irrational fear is irrational.

This claim, regularly made by airlines, is based on a calculation of fatalities vs. distance traveled. It's a really effective way to dilute the number of air travel deaths because planes by their very nature make much longer journeys than cars, trains, etc. A more accurate comparison would be deaths vs. number of journeys made. Airline deaths per 100 million passenger journeys is right around 55. That number is 4.5 for cars and 2.7 for trains.

Or, FTALast year 1.3 million people died in road accidents worldwide. Globally, just 173 died in airplanes last year- down from 388 in 2012 and 626 in 2010.

SquiggsIN:Psylence: ....I despise air travel and will avoid at all costs now. I've been on 18 hour flights from JFK to Tel Aviv, 13 hours from ATL to Honolulu. I've done my time in the purgatory of air travel.

I'd rather ride a train for 18 hours than spend 3 hours in a plane and 3 more in airports. (Unless someone in my family is flying the plane: dad, granddad, grandma, cousin are all private pilots)

Wow - that's some crazy right there. 3 times as long in a train (which probably won't crash) vs. an airplane (which probably won't crash).

The Malaysian airliner disappearance has reinforced my conviction that airline crashes are to car crashes as mass shootings are to individual shootings.

People go batshiat crazy over airline crashes and mass shootings, while 10 times the body count piles up from car crashes or individual shootings before the story grows cold and nobody cares about them.

This explains why the US doesnt let the Austrailians borrow a p3 Orion that can be refueled in flight.

dittybopper:Sybarite: vernonFL: Well of course that is ridiculous. Flying is the safest form of travel and everyone knows this.

/Irrational fear is irrational.

This claim, regularly made by airlines, is based on a calculation of fatalities vs. distance traveled. It's a really effective way to dilute the number of air travel deaths because planes by their very nature make much longer journeys than cars, trains, etc. A more accurate comparison would be deaths vs. number of journeys made. Airline deaths per 100 million passenger journeys is right around 55. That number is 4.5 for cars and 2.7 for trains.

I would actually argue for deaths per million passenger hours. Which would be more dangerous: Sitting in a car for 5 hours, or sitting in a jet for 5 hours?

Sitting in a jet for 5 hours is much easier. You can just go in the shiatter and spank one off thinking of the stewardess with the trick accent.

gfid:SquiggsIN: Psylence: ....I despise air travel and will avoid at all costs now. I've been on 18 hour flights from JFK to Tel Aviv, 13 hours from ATL to Honolulu. I've done my time in the purgatory of air travel.

I'd rather ride a train for 18 hours than spend 3 hours in a plane and 3 more in airports. (Unless someone in my family is flying the plane: dad, granddad, grandma, cousin are all private pilots)

Wow - that's some crazy right there. 3 times as long in a train (which probably won't crash) vs. an airplane (which probably won't crash).

Have fun with that. I'll take the plane.

Ahh, but in the "rare" case that it does (which has been rarer for trains vs planes), which one are you more likely to survive? Falling from 30,000 feet, or 10? Going from 50 to 0, or 2-300 to 0?

/dislikes flying as well. Prefers a truck, and also knows how to navigate.

Sybarite:vernonFL: Well of course that is ridiculous. Flying is the safest form of travel and everyone knows this.

/Irrational fear is irrational.

This claim, regularly made by airlines, is based on a calculation of fatalities vs. distance traveled. It's a really effective way to dilute the number of air travel deaths because planes by their very nature make much longer journeys than cars, trains, etc. A more accurate comparison would be deaths vs. number of journeys made. Airline deaths per 100 million passenger journeys is right around 55. That number is 4.5 for cars and 2.7 for trains.

Comparing a trip to school with one to another continent is not a fair comparison.

Boeing:"Thank you for your recent purchase of the Boeing 777 airliner.We are contacting you today to inform you of an exciting new upgrade and an excellent savings opportunity.Right now, we are offering a systems update that will allow your new aircraft the ability to upload real-time telemetry to keep track of your fleet while en-route. This upgrade is available at the low price of $10 per flight."

Would you be interested in this upgrade? (Y,N)

Malaysian Air:$10/flight? That's what, a few cents per seat? F-that.No, and Unsubscribe.

syrynxx:The Malaysian airliner disappearance has reinforced my conviction that airline crashes are to car crashes as mass shootings are to individual shootings.

People go batshiat crazy over airline crashes and mass shootings, while 10 times the body count piles up from car crashes or individual shootings before the story grows cold and nobody cares about them.

What is this? Common sense in a FARK thread? Is that... a whiff of intellect? What in blazes are you doing here?

Challam:If you DO have a fear of flying and you have been following Flight 370 coverage (like that's optional), for God's sake, don't see "Non-Stop" at the theater now -- wait for the DVD/streaming release!

I think my biggest issue wit my flying (I know yohballbgave been dying to know) is that I have no control over what happens. I have to trust that someone else is competent, doesn't have a reason to die and take me with him. This is tough for me to do.

BetterMetalSnake:I think my biggest issue wit my flying (I know yohballbgave been dying to know) is that I have no control over what happens. I have to trust that someone else is competent, doesn't have a reason to die and take me with him. This is tough for me to do.

Also, a critical failure in a car doesn't mean certain death.

WTH is wrong with autocorrect? I know what you wanted to say. How the hell does that happen?

Grumpy Cat:BetterMetalSnake: I think my biggest issue wit my flying (I know yohballbgave been dying to know) is that I have no control over what happens. I have to trust that someone else is competent, doesn't have a reason to die and take me with him. This is tough for me to do.

Also, a critical failure in a car doesn't mean certain death.

WTH is wrong with autocorrect? I know what you wanted to say. How the hell does that happen?

I have a hate/hate relationship with autocorrect. Between it and my tablet's keyboard I am lucky to type out 3 words per minute.

Sybarite:vernonFL: Well of course that is ridiculous. Flying is the safest form of travel and everyone knows this.

/Irrational fear is irrational.

This claim, regularly made by airlines, is based on a calculation of fatalities vs. distance traveled. It's a really effective way to dilute the number of air travel deaths because planes by their very nature make much longer journeys than cars, trains, etc. A more accurate comparison would be deaths vs. number of journeys made. Airline deaths per 100 million passenger journeys is right around 55. That number is 4.5 for cars and 2.7 for trains.

But that's comparing flights to Europe to a trip to Safeway for some milk. That's not a fair comparison. A truly fair comparison is probably impossible because many trips, such as Europe v. Safeway, are apples and oranges.